New supermarket for town centre

A NEW supermarket company is planning to open three stores before the end of the year – with the first in Warrington.
Asco Stores Ltd., which already has premises on the Trident Industrial Estate at Risley, is aiming to open its first store at the former Woolworth’s building in Sankey Street in October.
Work has already started on refurbishing the store, which closed in January, along with the rest of the Woolworth chain.
Asco also has plans to open stores in St Helens and Runcorn and has plans to go nationwide.
The company is currently advertising for a food retail manager, human resources manager and administrative assistant and eventually hopes to employ 60-80 people in Warrington.
When the other two stores open, they expect to be employing about 250 people.
The Sankey Street site has been chosen to spearhead the firm’s development because it is seen as a prime location for a town centre supermarket – which research has shown is something Warrington people want.
The town centre has not had a town centre supermarket since the Co-op pulled out of its Sankey Street store – now TJ Hughes – about 50 yards away from the former Woolworth’s.
Asco’s policy will be to sell daily essentials like bread, milk and fruit and vegetables as well as a lunch time range, deli counter and butchers. It will stay open until 7pm.